his son, I really cannot--"

"Shut yourself up in your room, and pay no heed to what is going on
here," Fanfar replied, sternly, showing, as he spoke, a ring that he
wore on his finger.

It belonged to Monte-Cristo, and had been entrusted to Fanfar by the
Count when he went away. This ring was well known to every one of the
Count's people. The man bowed low.

"I beg your pardon, sir. Shall I call the footman?"

"No; and on your life do not admit a living creature. You understand
me?"

"Yes, sir."

They ascended the stairs and entered the large rooms one after the
other. When the Vicomte's cabinet was entered, it was found all in
disorder.

"The Vicomte, you see, has taken his pistols," said Coucon.

"What time did the Vicomte go?" asked Fanfar.

"I know not," answered Coucon, "and Madame was weeping so bitterly that
she was of little use."

Fanfar was annoyed that he could elicit so little, knowing well that if
Monte-Cristo were there his eagle eye would have discovered something.

"Send me the porter," he said.

And when the man appeared, he asked at what hour the Vicomte went out
last. The man, in some confusion, replied that he did not see him go
out.

"You were absent from your post, then?"

"No, sir, I was not. I was not away for one moment yesterday."

"And you saw every one who came in and went out?"

"Yes, sir. The Vicomte did go out, but he came in again."

"Came in!" cried Madame and Coucon, together.

"Yes; it was about an hour after that, when you came and told me he had
disappeared. I thought that he might have gone out, and I not heeded
it."

"And may not this have been so?" asked Fanfar. "If the Vicomte is not in
the hotel, he must have gone out, you know."

"I beg to observe, sir, that the Vicomte might have gone out by the
small door which communicates directly with his apartment; but every
night when I shut up the house I bolt that door, and it is still bolted;
so that my young master did not go that way. It is possible, of course,
that he could have passed my door without my seeing him. I can't always
answer for myself; but I have proof that he did not do this."

"What is your proof?"

"Every night I fasten the great door with a chain and padlock and take
the key. If any one wishes to go out in the night he must call me. As
soon as the Vicomte came in I put up this chain. I assure you, sir, that
I am speaking the truth. At first I was troubled and afraid I had been
carel